Take Care Of Your Teeth The Natural Way

The last few weeks have seen politicians chasing our votes, but when the new parliament assembles the government will have to get back to the job of dealing with major issues in dentistry, such as a shortage of NHS provisions because so many practices have gone private.

However, while we can all hope things are done to improve the state of dentistry and anyone without an NHS dentist will try to find one, the fact is that, like so many aspects of our health, there is a lot we can do to protect our own oral health, just as we can take steps as individuals to buy ethical and eco-friendly products.

These two factors can come together when it comes to toothcare, as there are many products we can use daily to keep our smiles gleaming and breath fresh, but often that can involve using some synthetic and non-organic products. However, there are also natural toothcare alternatives.

Synthetic And Harmful Ingredients Galore

Take mouthwashes, for example. A Which? study of what is in them was very revealing: It is fair to say that some of the ingredients are essentially natural. Zinc in the form of zinc chloride, for instance, is important because it binds to hydrogen sulphate, a common cause of bad breath.

Sodium fluoride, which you will also find in toothpaste, is also natural, but some people get a negative reaction to it. And you won’t have to look far to see a synthetic substance in most of these products. There will often be artificial sweeteners and synthetic colours.

Toothpaste can contain many synthetic or simply quite harmful substances, according to Experience Life.

It lists substances like Triclosan, a pesticide used as an antibacterial agent; parabens, which are used as preservatives; artificial colours and sweeteners, plus propylene glycol, which is a surfactant - something designed to reduce the surface tension between two liquids to help them mix together. It is also synthetic.

The article states that these substances all come with possible negative health effects and some natural things that can also be added but may pose some level of toxic hazard, like carrageenan, a food additive extracted from red seaweed that can cause inflammation and intestinal trouble.

Of course, not all toothpastes you will find on the supermarket shelf will contain all of these substances, but it’s worth looking at what they do contain.

Organic Alternatives

The next question, of course, is what can you do if you want something natural, organic, vegan and good for all your health, rather than helping your teeth but potentially causing problems elsewhere?

This is why we offer truly natural products that can give you healthier teeth, fresh breath and freedom from gum disease, yet without those questionable ingredients and synthetic substances.

For instance, if you want mouthwash, Sarakan anti-plaque mouthwash uses witch hazel and Salvadora persica as its active ingredients. There’s no alcohol or fluoride, while the flavourings are totally natural, coming from peppermint and geranium. The product is endorsed by the British Dental Foundation.

The same goes for the kinds of toothpaste we stock. Simply Coconut uses coconut oil, magnesium and calcium as its natural ingredients, while the flavour is provided by peppermint oil.

For some very specialised products, you can find things like the Biomed Calcimax, a vegan-friendly 97 per cent natural formula that is specifically designed to repair and protect cavities. It used hydroxyapatite, the substance our tooth enamel is naturally made of, as well as calcium, magnesium and zinc.

Aloe extracts, white clay and pineapple extracts are also among the ingredients, helping to whiten teeth and break down plaque, while white plantain and birch leaf are also included to help improve gum health.

How To Solve The Toothbrush Problem

It isn’t just toothpaste and mouthwash that can come in alternatives that are vegan-friendly, kind to animals and nature and good for you because you aren’t putting synthetic substances into yourself or the wider environment.

This also goes for equipment we stock, not least bamboo toothbrushes. With dentists advising that people dispose of their old toothbrushes every three months, the American Dental Association has estimated that 29.4 billion toothbrushes a year are set to be thrown away, most of them plastic.

Although some of these may be recycled, we all know that many won’t be and will add to landfills and waste floating in the oceans, ultimately seeping back into the food chain.

You may not be able to deal with 29 billion toothbrushes, but you can certainly take care of your own with a bamboo toothbrush. Made from an organic material, these brushes also have biodegradable bristles and packaging.

Oral health is very important. But you don’t have to compromise on the world, the welfare of animals or the environment to look after your teeth.